Thread: Escher or Droescher?

S. R. D. stands for Severin R. Droescher born in Germany, emigrated to the US in 1881. The firm mainly imported razors and hones in New York city from 1891-1924.

Here is my Escher that was sold by Droescher with all 3 labels

Originally Posted by Martin103

S. R. D. stands for Severin R. Droescher born in Germany, emigrated to the US in 1881. The firm mainly imported razors and hones in New York city from 1891-1924.

Severin Robert Droescher was born in Hechingen Germany 1844 or 1866 (I found two different dates). After his imigration to the States he founded the SRD Company which exist 1891 - 1924 and had a prodution site for razors in Cranberry/ New Yersey. He had good relationships to some Solingen companies and imported razors from there. Also he did business with J.G. Escher&Son and imported thuringian razor hones.

An interesting side note: The town Hechingen is located in the old county Hohenzollern. The castle Hohenzollern is next to the town. So my estimate since a long time is, that the so called Hohenzollern Abziehstein (wich is clearly a thuringian waterhone) was made/labelled by the Droescher company and maybe provided through some members of the Droescher family in Hechingen (the family name Droescher is stilll present in Hechingen today). Up to now I have not found any proof for that.

If this is Droescher's signature you've got the proof you need.

Hi Kees,

yeah I now of the signature but it is not as easy. We have discussed this already on a Hohenzollern thread here I suppose. There was a second importer for the Hohenzollern Hones, the company Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk & Co. So maybe they have been in business after the SRD comapny and took over the import of Hohenzollern Hones from SRD because their label says "sole importer". Anyhow, I have to find the source of the hones in Germany.

More on Severin Robert Droescher here, Page 54:

https://books.google.de/books?id=_v4...everin&f=false

http://sharonsteelerealestate.com/bl...oeschers-mill/

http://cranfordhistory.org/wp-conten...5_16_29_57.pdf

This one has the Escher cup on it, a Water Razor Stone, is this another off shoot of the company:

That's an interesting and not often seen label. The Escher cup clearly identifies it as an Escher&Co hone, maybe an older label.

Originally Posted by hatzicho

That's an interesting and not often seen label. The Escher cup clearly identifies it as an Escher&Co hone, maybe an older label.

It's 7 x 1.7 x 1 inches, good sized stone, and as you mentioned, I haven't found another example of that particular label. Do you have any further information?

Originally Posted by hatzicho

Severin Robert Droescher was born in Hechingen Germany 1844 or 1866 (I found two different dates).

The correct date is: 07.02.1866

Severin Robert was the Son of Joseph Dröscher (Architect and Stonemason) and Amalie Glaubhofer.

Severin Robert had a brother Joseph Andreas and a sister Sophia Katharina.

The Origin of his name was Germany so the name is written "Dröscher". Due the immigration to America the name was changed to "Droescher"...